dropping rocks...ridiculous things in battle

[CosmoSteve]

I believe that trebuchets and mangonels have a longer range than catapults, so they are useful when fighting against more advanced castles, especially if those castles have ballista/catapult towers that could destroy a close range catapult.

[antisocialmunky]

I like the catapults because they can rotate themselves(I believe) so they aren't like "Dude, they... are going really really right... that means... RUN AWAY!"

[Martok]

I like using trebuchets, although that's partly just because I like the word. Serously, though....

Like CosmoSteve, I do find them useful against the larger castles. I've also discovered they can be quite handy when you're fighting defensive battles--there's a lot to be said for artillery that can start flinging rocks at the enemy before they're even close enough to bring their archers to bear.

Regardless of what you're using them for, however, the biggest key to employing trebuchets successfully (for me, at least) is numbers. Ideally, you want to have at least 2 of them in a battle (sometimes even 3 or 4) to be truly effective. Having multiple trebuchets helps make up for their lack of accuracy, plus it keeps up a relatively sustained rate of fire (which is another key to employing them effectively).

With Ballistas, I've found them to be far more limited in their use, although I still build a few now and then. Ballistas are actually pretty good for breaking down the gates to forts and even keeps, as it reduces your "regular" units' exposure to the castle's automated defenses. Like other artillery pieces, they can also be useful in defensive battles, although their relatively short range and piss-poor accuracy makes them less effective than the others. So while Ballistas do have their uses, I generally don't use them nearly as much.

When it comes to pre-gunpowder artillery, trebuchets, catapults, and naptha catapults are pretty much all I use.

[Just A Girl]

Balistas break gates and shoots the people bbehind them....
So i like them,

trebuchays need to be prety much as far away from the wall they can be and still be able to target it,
you tend to hit something then.

If its 2 short you get a lucky bounce at times.
2 long and the back wall or keep exetera get it,

There handy as they can be out side of arrow tower range,
Where as my catapults usualy cant be.

[Scurvy]

nothing like a good culverin

[Ludens]

trebuchays need to be prety much as far away from the wall they can be and still be able to target it,
you tend to hit something then.

If its 2 short you get a lucky bounce at times.
2 long and the back wall or keep exetera get it,

Interesting. My biggest problem with Trebuchets/Mangonels is that they sometimes manage to shoot all their without damaging a wall enough to actually knock it down. Which rather defeats the purpose of taking them.

Anyway, thanks for the advice CosmoSteve, Martok and Just A Girl.

BTW I also consider artillery on the field overpowered, especially against the A.I. who seems clueless on how to either use or counter them.